| 1957 |
The Mansfield Historical Society is founded. |
| 1960 |
Publication of A Bibiliography of the History of Mansfield,
Connecticut, compiled by Ruth Munsell. |
| 1962 |
Town offers the use of the Eagleville School to the Mansfield
Historical Society.
April 10 the centennial of the birth of Gov. Wilbur Cross is
celebrated with a special dinner meeting. Philip Hewes, who was Gov.
Cross's Executive Secretary, is guest speaker.
August 11 The Mansfield Historical Society opens its museum in
the old Eagleville schoolhouse. |
| 1963 |
The Mansfield Historical Society offers a five-week workshop in
historical research. |
| 1964 |
Publication of The Wilbur L. Cross Centennial Celebration,
1862-1962
The Connecticut League of Historical Societies presents an Award
of Merit to the Mansfield Historical Society for its museum,
research programs and publications. |
| 1965 |
The Mansfield Historical Society joins with the Conservation
Commission to form The Joshua's Tract Conservation and Historic
Trust.
American Association for State and Local History in Harrisburg,
PA, presents an Award of Merit to the Mansfield Historical Society
for "a dynamic and comprehensive program of lectures, seminars, and
research on local history, and for playing the major role in the
organization of a local conservation and historic trust."
The Mansfield History Workshop members makes plans to write a
history of Mansfield. Work begins on what would result in the
publication of the Chronology of Mansfield in 1974. |
| 1966 |
September 16 The Mansfield Historical Society holds a Living
Museum Day with demonstrations of various colonial crafts.
Approximately 550 people attend. |
| 1967 |
The Connecticut League of Historical Societies holds its annual
meeting in Mansfield Center as a guest of the Mansfield Historical
Society. |
| 1969 |
The museum holds a special program for children during the summer
featuring demonstrations of candle, broom, taffy and ice cream
making. |
| 1970 |
Exhibit of Furniture and Furnishing of Early Mansfield
held in Jorgensen Gallery, University of Connecticut, January
26-Feb. 19
The Connecticut League of Historical Societies presents an Award
of Merit to the Mansfield Historical Society. |
| 1971 |
Exhibit of Mansfield in the Mid-Nineteenth Century held in
Jorgensen Gallery, University of Connecticut, April 3-25 |
| 1973 |
The Mansfield Historical Society sponsors a Colonial Supper
prepared by the Grade 10 American Studies class at E. O. Smith High
School. |
| 1974 |
October 10 Re-enactment of the signing of the town's historic
"Declaration of Freedom" on October 10, 1774.
Publication of The Chronology of Mansfield, compiled by
the History Workshop of the Mansfield Historical Society. |
| 1975 |
Publication of That Sacred Plant of Paradise by Jack Lamb
and Roberta Smith |
| 1976 |
The Connecticut League of Historical Societies presents an Award
of Merit to the Mansfield Historical Society for "creatively
combining history and the dramatic arts in a re-enactment of the
Mansfield Town Meeting of October 10, 1774 at which a "Declaration
of Freedom" was adopted; for therefore accurately bringing history
alive for the citizens of Mansfield. " |
| 1977 |
Publication of Farming in Mansfield, 1690-1955 by Alfred
Staebner and Mildred Smith
The Mansfield Historical Society, in cooperation with UCONN
Office of Public Programs, sponsors a concert by the New England
String Quartet to raise funds for the restoration of the Old Town
Hall. |
| 1978 |
Publication of On the Trail of a Legend: The Separatist
Movement in Mansfield, Connecticut, 1745-1769 by James H. and
Esther D. Barnett |
| 1979 |
The Mansfield Historical Society, in cooperation with UCONN
Office of Public Programs, presents a benefit concert by the New
England String Quartet, with proceeds towards the establishment of a
permanent headquarters for the Society.
The Connecticut League of Historical Societies presents an Award
of Merit to James H. and Esther Barnett for their book, On the
Trail of a Legend.
The Society receives a bequest from George Gurley of 15% of the
residue of his estate, or about $165,000. This becomes the basis of
the Society's endowment fund. |
| 1980 |
The Mansfield Historical Society moves to its present
headquarters in the former Town Office Building.
Publication of George Freeman, Miniaturist, 1787-1868, by
Wilma Keyes.
First "Sandwiched-In" Program held. |
| 1981 |
The Connecticut League of Historical Societies presents Awards of
Merit to the Mansfield Historical Society for its achievements and
to Wilma Keyes for the publication of her book on George
Freeman. |
| 1982 |
Publication of The Storrs Brothers and the Founding of the
Storrs Agricultural School, 1881, by James H. Barnett |
| 1983 |
Publication of Listen to the Echoes The Early History of
Spring Hill, by Roberta K. Smith.
The Mansfield Historical Society presents a 4-week course on
Mansfield history through Mansfield's Community Education
Program. |
| 1984 |
The Connecticut League of Historical Societies presents an Award
of Merit to Roberta Smith for her book, Listen to the
Echoes.
The Gurleyville Grist Mill Management Committee of Joshua's Trust
and the Mansfield Historical Society publish Wilbur Cross
Remembered. |
| 1985 |
Publication of The Mansfield Poor House: A Forgotten
Institution, 1861-1922, A Memoir by Dorothy Jenner Gardiner and
Other Materials for an Historical Study. |
| 1986 |
The Old Town Hall Building becomes part of the Mansfield
Historical Society Museum. |
| 1989 |
The Mansfield Historical Society and 16 other museums join
together to form Museums of Northeast Connecticut (M.O.N.C.
). |
| 1990 |
Publication of The Constant Years: The Life of Constant
Southworth (1730-1813), by Roberta K. Smith.
Museum enters the computer age with the purchase of its first
computer. |
| 1991 |
Ann Galonska is hired as the Society's first museum
director. |
| 1992 |
An Education Committee is formed and the first museum loan boxes
are prepared for use by the local schools. |
| 1993 |
The Society hires a consultant, Paul Himmelstein, to do a
conservation assessment of the museum. |
| 1994 |
The Town and Historical Society sign a new 20-year lease for use
of the former Town Office Building and the Old Town Hall as the
Society's headquarters and museum.
Silkworms are successfully raised at the museum for the first
time as part of an exhibit on the local silk industry. |
| 1995 |
The museum begins to enter its collection records into an Access
database. |
| 1996 |
In January, the Executive Council approves a prioritized capital
improvement budget: Priority I: 1) Update security system; 2)
Solar screening (UV filters) for windows in main building; 3) Update
office equipment. Priority II: 1) Solar screening for the Old
Town Hall; 2) Track lighting in main building; 3) Climate control
for main building. Priority 3: 1) New computer; 2)
Handicapped accessible facilities.
By the end of the year the Priority I goals have been achieved:
The security system is updated; the solar screening is installed in
both buildings and the new office equipment is purchased. A matured
CD is used to pay for the improvements. |
| 1997 |
Climate control units are installed on the first floor of the
museum. The Society and Town share the costs.
The Society receives a $3,000 grant from the Quinebaug-Shetucket
Heritage Corridor, Inc. for an exhibit, educational program and
video about the building of the Mansfield Hollow Dam.
The Society hires Ralph Fierro for the summer to begin the
process of updating the Chronology of Mansfield from 1972 to
the present. |
| 1998 |
The Society reserves a $10,000 gift from Ruth Munsell which the
Executive Council earmarks for publications.
A new slate roof is installed on the main museum building. The
Town of Mansfield pays for this work. With the water leakage problem
solved, volunteers re-paint the interior of the main museum
building.
The Society raises its dues to $10 (individual) and $15
(family). |
| 1999 |
The entry of the museum's accession records into a computer
database is finally completed.
The Society establishes a Web site. |
| 2000 |
The Society launches a town-wide membership mail campaign. As a
result, the membership almost doubles to 512.
The Society receives a $1,000 Link to Learning / Museums for the
Millennium Grant from SNET to support its Web site development.
Plans begin for celebration of the Towns Tercentenary in 2002.
Several Society members serve on the Town's Steering
Committee. |
| 2001 |
Historic Mansfield Center is published in Dec. 2001 and
all 500 copies are nearly sold out a month later. Plans are made for
a second edition.
The Society receives a $3,500 matching grant from the
Quinebaug-Shectucket Heritage Corridor for the Chronology of
Mansfield publication project. |
| 2002 |
The Society contracts with Dr. Janice Stockard to write a book
about the silk industry in Mansfield.
The second edition of Historic Mansfield Center is
published in December.
The Society raises $3,300 in sponsorships for the publication of
the updated Chronology of Mansfield, 1702-2002.
The Society holds special exhibits, co-sponsors a bus tour of
Wormwood Hill, Mount Hope and Atwoodville, and participates in
several of the Town-planned tercentenary events.
Dues are increased by $5.00 to cover rising costs of operating
expenses, postage and additional publications. |
| 2003 |
The updated Chronology of Mansfield, 1702-2002 is finally
published after 6 years of work. It receives an Award of Merit from
the Connecticut League of History Organizations. |
| 2004 |
The electrical service is upgraded in both museum buildings. A
track lighting system is installed in the main building. The Town
pays for half of the project cost and Society members donate the
necessary funds to complete the project.
A successful Tag Sale is held in April but the weight of the
large crowd in the Old Town Hall causes structural damage to the
building. The building is temporarily condemned until new support
columns can be installed in the basement and the floor joists are
reinforced. The building cannot be used for the rest of the year.
Thankfully, the Town pays for these expensive repairs. |
| 2005 |
The second edition of Roberta Smith's Listen to the Echoes
is published.
To help defray the Society's mounting operating costs, an
anonymous member offers a $5,000 challenge grant. Society members
donate the necessary funds to secure the grant.
Janice Stockard completes the first draft of the book on the silk
industry, but more work remains. |
| 2006 |
The Society receives a grant of $2,782 from the Community
Foundation of the Tri-County Area, Inc. for an exhibit on local
Hungarian, Czech and Slovak families and a related program and
booklet.
The Historical Society, in partnership with the Town, receives a
Historic Preservation grant ($8,200) from the Quinebaug-Shetucket
Heritage Corridor, Inc. to replace the roof on the Old Town Hall and
to repair and re-paint the water-damaged interior walls. Generous
members again answer the call to raise the Society's share of the
required matching funds.
Due to rising costs, dues are raised another $5 to $20
(Individual) and $30 (Family). |
| 2007 |
Work on the Old Town Hall preservation project is completed in
January.
New library shelving is installed and the library and office area
are re-organized.
The Community Foundation grant project is completed.
The Historical Society celebrates it 50th anniversary
at its annual dinner on September
14. |
